School of Humanities  
 
 
AMS-30035 'Eyes on the Prize': The Struggle for Civil Rights in America  
Co-ordinator: Dr Laura Sandy   Tel:33201  
Teaching Team: Mrs Jayne  Braddick, Dr Tim  Lustig, Mrs Amanda  Porritt, Miss Jo-Anne  Watts, Dr Laura  Sandy, Mr Jonathan  Bell  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 3 Credits: 15 Study Hours: 150  
School Office: Tel: 01782 733147
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for
American Studies Dual Honours (Level 3)
American Studies Minor (Level 3)
American Studies Single Honours (Level 3)
History Major (Level 3)
History Minor (Level 3)
Available as a Free Standing Elective
Yes
Barred Combinations
None
Prerequisites
Successful completion of one of the following: AMS-10026 The American Past AMS-20048 US History and Society since the 1940s AMS-20054 American Environmental History AMS-20055 The Slave South AMS-20050 The New South AMS-20057 History of the American West

Description

This module is suitable for students who have already taken history modules and acquired a solid grounding in the methods of historical research, analysis, and writing. This module allows students to study one of the most dramatic processes to shape contemporary America: the African-American struggle for civil rights. From a South blighted by $ùJim Crow&© segregation, and lynching to today&©s America, where equality before the law has been achieved but fissures of race still divide society, we will assess the aims and achievements of black leadership; the contribution of $ùmainstream protest&© by ordinary men and women, black and white, Northern and Southern, to re-shaping American society and the broader African-American contribution to American culture. The rise of more radical strategies will also be addressed and placed within the larger context of this, the most significant dilemma to confront American democracy over the last century.

This module gives students an in-depth familiarity with a case-study of a mass movement for civil rights, with some attention to other kinds of campaigns and freedom struggles, particularly before the emergence of mass activism. The module will be informed by the latest stage in the scholarly debate concerning the nature of mass activism and protest by African-Americans in an effort to gain full citizenship rights and economic opportunities. This module will give students the ability to the application of advanced historiographical methods of research to piece together the narrative of the Civil Rights movement and how scholarly debate reflects contemporary race related issues. Furthermore students will gain the ability to evaluate the differing value of conflicting approaches, a process that throws into relief the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of knowledge but also the possibility of achieving methodological objectivity. Students taking this module will also gain the abiltiy to manage their own learning by generating essay topics themselves, and make use of scholarly articles and primary sources relating to Civil Rights in a way that goes beyond the insights available from secondary sources alone.
Aims
to introduce students to the role of civil rights conflict in the shaping of contemporary America
to assess the aims and achievements of black leadership in the Civil Rights Movement;
to document and evaluate the contribution of $ùmainstream protest&© by ordinary men and women, black and white, Northern and Southern, in re-shaping American society
to document and evaluate the broader African-American contribution to American society and culture
Intended Learning Outcomes
recognise and explain the particular issues and debates associated with the struggle for Civil Rights and racial equality in the United States will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3
gauge the relative importance of leadership and grass roots momentum in the Civil Rights movement will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3
analyse the politics of power relations and protest movements in a mature and liberal democracy will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3
assess the relative merits of conflicting interpretations of significant events and phenomena, recognising the complexity and diversity of historical situations, events and belief systems. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3,
conduct sophisticated analysis of primary source material with due regard to provenance, content, and interpretation. will be achieved by assessments: 1
use constructively source materials both in evaluating primary and secondary accounts and in developing original interpretations fostering competence in the handling and analysis of evidence. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 3
Study hours
28 hours, comprising 11 x 2-hour seminars + 3 x 2-hour video/documentary screenings; 40 hour seminar preparation; 20 hours Short Paper preparation; 62 hours exam preparation.
Description of Module Assessment
01: Short Paper weighted 30%
1500 word analysis of a primary source text
Following appropriate seminar preparation students will undertake a critical assessment of a primary source related to the topic areas covered by this unit in order to develop the students&© skills in analysing, evaluating, and interrogating primary source material.
02: Class Participation weighted 10%
Seminar participation including contribution to small group work
Participation is assessed according to effort as well as academic ability; i.e., evidence of preparation in response to set seminar topics, readiness to apply the preparation positively in class discussion, and quality to contributions. Tutor will keep a weekly record to support marks awarded. Encourages development of both individual oral presentation and team-working skills in seminars and workshops.

03: 2 Hour Exam weighted 60%
2 hour, unseen exam
Students will be asked to respond to two essay questions from a choice of eight. The examination tests broad subject knowledge, promotes the ability to formulate and sustain effective arguments under timed conditions and to write with fluency and clarity.
Version: (1.06B) Updated: 03/Mar/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.